Bolthouse Farms

Bolthouse Farms, founded in 1915, is a vertically-integrated farm company located in California's San Joaquin Valley and headquartered in Bakersfield, California. According to the business research company Hoover's, Bolthouse Farms is one of the United States' leading producers of carrots. [Hoover's report is available online at Google Finance: [http://finance.google.com/finance?cid=13601027] ] The company is also a leading producer of super premium refrigerated products.

Products

The company produces numerous all-natural premium refrigerated beverages including four 100% juices, 3 lemonades, five smoothies, and three protein drinks. [http://www.bolthouse.com/juice_main.html Bolthouse Farms "Juices" ] ] They also have a Bolthouse do Brasil section, which produces three açaí berry juices. [http://www.bomdia.com/ Bom Dia Antioxidant Rich Acai Juice - Acai Berry with Pomegranate Juice, Acai Berry with Mangosteen Juice, Acai Berry with Cacao ] ]

The beverages are available in the large 1 liter size (33.8 fl oz) bottles, and the smaller, 450 mL (15.2 fl oz) bottles. Their acai juices come in the 340 mL size (11.5 fl oz).

"Juices"

*100% Carrot, 100% carrot juice.
*100% Valencia Orange
*Passion Fruit
*Vedge, a Vegetable juice blend is intended to have high fiber, potassium, folic acid, and antioxidant content.

"Lemonades"

*Mango Lemonade
*Prickly Pear Cactus Lemonade
*Cranberry Lemonade

Smoothies

*Blue Goodnessis claimed to be rich in antioxidants, fiber, vitamin C and E, and several B vitamins.
**Ingredients: Blueberry juice from concentrate (Water, Blueberry juice concentrate), Apple juice from concentrate (Water, Apple juice concentrate), Banana puree, Blackberry juice from concentrate (Water, Blackberry juice concentrate), Elderberry juice from concentrate (Water, Elderberry juice concentrate), Inulin (as dietary fiber), Xanthan gum (as dietary fiber), Natural flavors, Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid), Vitamin E (Tocopherol acetate), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), Vitamin B9 (Folic acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine hydrochloride), Vitamin B₂ (Riboflavin), Vitamin B1 (Thiamin), Vitamin B7 (Biotin), Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin).
*Green Goodness is intended to have a large phytonutrient content.
**Ingredients: Apple juice from concentrate (Apple juice concentrate, Water), Pineapple juice from concentrate (Pineapple juice concentrate, Water), Mango puree from concentrate (Mango puree concentrate, Water), Banana puree, Kiwi juice, Natural flavor, Spirulina, Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid), lime juice, Broccoli, Green tea, Spinach, Barley grass, Wheat grass, Odorless garlic, Tamarind puree, Lemon Juice, Jerusalem artichoke.
*Strawberry Banana
**Ingredients: Strawberry banana puree (Strawberry puree, Banana puree), Apple juice from concentrate (Apple juice concentrate, Water), Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) and Natural flavor.
*Berry Boost is intended as a fruit-filled, vitamin-rich smoothie.
**Ingredients: Berry blend (Blackberry puree, boysenberry juice, red raspberry puree, strawberry puree, blueberry puree), apple puree from concentrate (apple puree concentrate, water), natural flavors, apple juice from concentrate (apple juice concentrate, water), banana puree, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin A (beta carotene), vitamin E (as acetate), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin).
*C-Boost is intended as a vitamin-C-rich blend.
**Ingredients: Acerola cherries, Apple juice from concentrate (Apple juice concentrate, Water), Mango puree from concentrate (Mango puree concentrate, Water), Natural flavors, Camu camu fruit, Zinc amino acid chelate, Vitamin A (Beta carotene), Maitake mushroom, echinacea, Vitamin E (as acetate) and Astragulus.

Protein drinks

The large Perfectly Protein bottles are labeled as having 42 grams of protein, and the smaller ones labeled as having 19 grams.
*Perfectly Protein Vanilla Chai
**Ingredients: Vanilla chai tea (Soy milk, Brewed green tea, natural flavors, vanilla extract), Soy protein isolate, Apple juice, Carrageenan, Calcium (Tricalcium phosphate), Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid), magnesium (magnesium oxide), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine hydrochloride), Zinc (Zinc sulfate), iron (Ferrous lactate) and Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin).
*Pefectly Protein Mocha Cappuccino
**Ingredients: Mocha cappuccino (Low-fat milk, 100% Arabica coffee, natural flavors, Vanilla extract (Madagascar), Cocoa), Milk whey protein, Potassium diphosphate, Apple juice, Pectin, Carrageenan, Calcium (Tricalcium phosphate), Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid), magnesium (magnesium oxide), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), zinc (sinc sulfate), iron (ferrous lactate), Vitamin B₁₂ (cyanocobalamin).
*Perfectly Protein Hazelnut Latté
**Ingredients: Hazelnut latté (Low-fat milk, 100% Arabica coffee, Natural flavors, Roasted hazelnut extract), Apple juice, Milk whey protein, Calcium (Tricalcium phosphate), Potassium diphosphate, Gum acacia, Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid), Gellan gum, Pectin, Magnesium (Magnesium Oxide), Iron (Ferrous lactate), Zinc (Zinc sulfate), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine hydrochloride), and Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin).

Bom Dia antioxidant rich juice

These açaí drinks are distributed only in the smaller, 340 mL (11.5 fl oz) bottles, which contain two servings of fruit. A larger size is available exclusively at Costco, co-branded with the Kirkland Signature name. These bottles have a chart of the relative levels of antioxidants in several fruit, depicting açaí as having 472 ORAC units per gram of edible fruit, the second highest shown being cranberry, at 95.
*Açaí Berry with Pomegranate
**Ingredients: açaí juice, pomegranate juice from concentrate, Apple juice from concentrate, guarana, Cabernet Sauvignon grape juice, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).
*Açaí Berry with Cacao
**Ingredients: açai juice, cacao puree, apple juice from concentrate, guarana, Merlot grape juice, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).
*Açaí Berry with Mangosteen
**Ingredients: açaí juice, mangosteen puree from concentrate, apple juice from concentrate, guarana, Merlot grape juice, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (Vitamic C).
*Açaí Berry with Blueberry
**Ingredients: açaí juice, blueberry juice from concentrate, apple juice from concentrate, guarana, Merlot grape juice, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (Vitamic C).
**Received top honors for its taste by * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGyhLOEnSRw Diet.com on YouTube] . The taste test video featured various Açaí Berry juice blends and other antioxidant drinks beating out Pom and Odwalla's Original Superfood. [See DietHealth aka Diet.com user name, YouTube Partner and Guru [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGyhLOEnSRw] ]

Creamy Yogurt Dressings

Dressings made with yogurt for a healthier, full flavored dressing.
*Chunky Blue Cheese [http://www.bolthouse.com/salad_main.html Bolthouse Farms Creamy Yogurt Dressings] ]
*Classic Ranch [http://www.bolthouse.com/salad_main.html] ]
*Caesar Parmigiano [http://www.bolthouse.com/salad_main.html] ]
*Thousand Island [http://www.bolthouse.com/salad_main.html] ]
*Honey Mustard [http://www.bolthouse.com/salad_main.html] ]
*Original Coleslaw [http://www.bolthouse.com/salad_main.html] ]

Controversy

William Bolthouse and the Bolthouse Foundation

There was much speculation and confusion surrounding the associaton and relationship between Bolthouse Farms and The Bolthouse Foundation. While the two organizations share the name "Bolthouse", the connection ends there.

According to the Bolthouse Foundation official website:

No members of The Bolthouse Foundation have a financial interest in Bolthouse Farms, and The Bolthouse Foundation receives neither financial support nor benefits from the profits of Bolthouse Farms. Bolthouse Farms company profits are not used to support the The Bolthouse Foundation.As stated on the Bolthouse Foundation website: [http://www.thebolthousefoundation.org/] ]

The division between the two entities became evidently clear in October, 2008 when an article in The L.A. TimesBolthouse Farms article in the L.A. Times: [http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-juice9-2008oct09,0,4032084.story] ] ran announcing that the "boycott" of Bolthouse Farms had ended. The advocacy group, "Californians Against Hate", had previously urged consumers to not support Bolthouse Farms. As of October 9, 2008, Californians Against Hate campaign manager Fred Karst issued a statement saying that the "Don't Buy Bolthouse" campaign had ended.Statement from Californians Against Hate: [http://californiansagainsthate.blogspot.com/2008/10/for-immediate-release-contact-fred.html] ]

Carrot botulism outbreak

In September 2006, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency ordered a voluntarily recall on the Bolthouse Farms "100 per cent Carrot Juice" and other Bolthouse Farms products due to several cases of botulism resulting from consumption of the products. On September 29, 2006 the United States Food and Drug Administration recommended that Georgia residents not purchase Bolthouse Farms carrot juice and, the same day, warned consumers not to purchase Bolthouse Farms products dated November 11, 2006 or earlier."Consumers to blame for botulism outbreak, juice maker says" CBC News, Wednesday, October 11, 2006. Online: [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/10/11/carrot-juice.html] ]

The warning and recalls were due to reported cases of consumption of the beverages resulting in six cases of botulism in the United States and Canada. Two cases in Toronto, Canada resulted in paralysis; three cases recorded in Georgia, United States resulted in respiratory failure, with the patients requiring ventilators; one case recorded in Florida resulted in hospitalization. The patient in Florida was last reported to be unresponsive since mid-September 2006. "Toxic carrot juice paralyzes 2 in Toronto" CBC News, Monday, October 9, 2006. Online: [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/10/09/botulism.html] ]

In response, Bolthouse Farms claimed that the illness was the fault of the consumers who had failed to properly refrigerate the products. The US Food and Drug Administration cited that this may not be the case and an investigation continues. [ [http://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/mmwrhtml/mm55d106a1.htm Botulism Associated with Commercial Carrot Juice --- Georgia and Florida, September 2006] from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.] Bolthouse Farms has subsequently released an FAQ regarding the event.The Bolthouse Farms Carrot Botulism FAQ is available online here: [http://www.bolthouse.com/bolthouserecallFAQ.pdf] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.bolthouse.com Bolthouse Farms Official Website]
* [http://www.thebolthousefoundation.org/ The Bolthouse Foundation]